{"id":116611,"date":"2026-05-29T14:03:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=116611"},"modified":"2026-05-29T09:54:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T07:54:11","slug":"automated-return-of-reusable-cups-in-freiburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/automatisierte-rueckgabe-von-mehrwegbechern-in-freiburg\/","title":{"rendered":"Automated returns of reusable cups in Freiburg"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tomra Reuse is setting a new standard in Freiburg for the integration of reusable systems into urban life. With the installation of two return machines for Recup cups at the main train station, automated returns are being integrated into an existing urban reusable system for the first time in Germany. The goal: to simplify the use of reusable packaging and enable returns in central, high-traffic locations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two Tomra Reuse return machines for Recup cups are to be installed at Freiburg's main train station. In the future, consumers will be able to automatically return their reusable cups there. Freiburg offers a particularly relevant environment for this. The city already has established reusable systems and has created an additional regulatory framework with the packaging tax, which strengthens reusable options over single-use ones. What has been missing so far are low-threshold, automated return options in places where to-go consumption and everyday mobility intersect. This is precisely where Tomra Reuse's technology comes in.<\/p>\n

Automated returns in everyday life<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The two return machines at Freiburg main station complement the existing Recup system, offering an additional option for returning reusable cups. Users can return their cups there without necessarily having to hand them in at a participating caf\u00e9 or restaurant. The machines recognise the cups and the deposit is refunded directly and contactless to the users' digital payment methods. This makes reusable options more visible, easier to access, and better integrated into everyday routines.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

\u201eFreiburg demonstrates how effectively the Recup network can be expanded with additional return infrastructure where demand is high. Central train stations are highly frequented places: people from all over the region come together here, on their way into or out of the city. Reusable packaging needs to be as simple and work beyond city limits as possible, especially here \u2013 and we have achieved that.\u201c<\/p>\n

Philipp Goos, Managing Director of Recup<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tomra Reuse is providing the take-back infrastructure and digital platform for the project. The technology is designed to make return processes efficient, traceable, and user-friendly. To start, the machines will accept Recup cups. In the future, the infrastructure can also be adapted for other reusable packaging.<\/p>\n

\"\"
(Image: Tomra Reuse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Infrastructure as a building block for scalable reusable systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201eReusable systems work particularly well when returning items is as easy as using them,\u201c says Sven Hennebach, Senior Manager at Tomra Reuse. \u201eFreiburg demonstrates how automated returns can sensibly complement existing reusable systems. This is an important point for cities: it's not enough to promote reusable options or make single-use alternatives less attractive. The right infrastructure is also needed so that consumers can easily integrate reusable items into their daily lives.\u201c<\/p>\n

The Freiburg project highlights Tomra's role as a technology and infrastructure partner for existing reusable systems. Automated returns do not necessarily require a completely new system, but can also be integrated into existing ecosystems. This creates an additional element for municipalities, system providers, and catering businesses to make reusable options more practical in urban areas and improve the conditions for higher usage and return rates.<\/p>\n

\"\"
(Image: Tomra Reuse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The potential that automated returns can unlock in urban areas is already being demonstrated by Tomra Reuse in Aarhus: there, over 30 return machines in public spaces have been enabling the return of reusable cups since January 2024. The milestone of two million returns has now been surpassed, with a return rate of 89 percent.<\/p>\n

Source:<\/em> Tomra Reuse<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In Freiburg, Tomra Reuse demonstrates how the automated return of Recup reusable cups can be integrated into existing urban systems. Two new machines at the main train station offer a practical solution.","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":116614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","rank_math_description":"Automatisierte R\u00fcckgabe von Mehrwegbechern in Freiburg: Tomra Reuse zeigt, wie urbane Mehrwegsysteme effizienter werden.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Mehrwegbecher","rank_math_title":"","_earpaper_enabled":false,"_earpaper_voice_id":"","_earpaper_audio_url":"","_earpaper_audio_id":"","_earpaper_article_id":"","_earpaper_status":"","_earpaper_error":"","_earpaper_duration":0,"_earpaper_generated_at":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[58781],"tags":[55,59698,31,32,58947,58929],"class_list":{"0":"post-116611","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-green-packaging","8":"tag-automatisieren-und-robotik","9":"tag-mehrweg","10":"tag-nachhaltigkeit-und-green-packaging","11":"tag-packmittel-und-packstoffe","12":"tag-recup","13":"tag-tomra","14":"cs-entry","15":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116611"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116617,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116611\/revisions\/116617"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}